Derren Brown

He wants to pretend he's not psychic, yet he goes around flaunting his ability? Not the best way of hiding it.

Sure, that's a valid explanation.

Yes it is. Instead of flaunting a psychic ability, he is flaunting his intelligence, that is something that will gain more respect for him than the former. It would also not scare off any potential people who want to spend their life around him.

If I was psychic, I don't think it would be a good idea to tell my partner that and neither the public. But would I try and make money from it? Probably.

Yes it is. Instead of flaunting a psychic ability, he is flaunting his intelligence, that is something that will gain more respect for him than the former. It would also not scare off any potential people who want to spend their life around him.

If I was psychic, I don't think it would be a good idea to tell my partner that and neither the public. But would I try and make money from it? Probably.

You're not getting it. If he really wanted to hide being psychic, why would he draw such obvious attention to himself?

And Derren is has already admitted that it was a problem for him when dating women (he's out of the closet now). They always thought he was reading them. So it wouldn't matter either way. They still thought he could read them like a book.

And many people claim to be psychic. They don't have any problems by saying that they're a psychic, so that's another explanation debunked.

You're not getting it. If he really wanted to hide being psychic, why would he draw such obvious attention to himself?

Money, fame and because he knows phsyic abilities are not accepted in science and is probably not accepted by most of the public so it's fairly easy for him to give alternative explanations that are simply based on him having superior intelligence.

And Derren is has already admitted that it was a problem for him when dating women (he's out of the closet now). They always thought he was reading them. So it wouldn't matter either way. They still thought he could read them like a book.

He may have not seen that coming and I don't think it's in the same league as actually explicitly reading someone's mind but I respect your argument there.

You're not getting it. If he really wanted to hide being psychic, why would he draw such obvious attention to himself?

And Derren is has already admitted that it was a problem for him when dating women (he's out of the closet now). They always thought he was reading them. So it wouldn't matter either way. They still thought he could read them like a book.

Jesus.... that would be un-nerving. Trying to hide all your erotic thoughts.....

Money, fame and because he knows phsyic abilities is not accepted in science and is probably not accepted by most of the public so it's fairly easy for him to give alternative explanations that are simply based on him having superior intelligence.

He doesn't claim to be particularly intelligent. I have his book. And people do believe in psychics. There are more believers than non-believers. He could also prove himself if he was genuinely psychic. Coming out as a psychic really isn't a problem.

Yes, but if you are going to flaunt your intelligence, as you put it, you wouldn't come out and say you have average intelligence.

Why not? Everyone can see he has superior intelligence by his actions, there is absolutely no need for him to say otherwise. If he chooses to say he has average intelligence then to me that's him simply being very modest.

Why not? Everyone can see he has superior intelligence by his actions, there is absolutely no need for him to say otherwise. If he chooses to say he has average intelligence then to me that's him simply being very modest.

I agree. However, if your goal is to flaunt your intelligence you wouldn't attempt to downplay it. That defeats the purpose.

Yes, but I've just demonstrated that the argument doesn't hold up. There are more believers than non-believers. He makes a much more convincing psychic than anyone else out there. And there are many lesser cold readers who make millions, like John Edward. There's no stigma attached to coming out as a psychic, so he has no reason to hide it from the public.

Putting aside intelligence specifically... the main point I'm trying to make is if you are psychic then you have the ability to impress and entertain to an extremely high level. You can do those things without revealing your abililities but by instead giving alternatives explanations, which are believable, for a few of your tricks and hiding the psyhic explanations behind the bigger tricks. All of the above has one end result, lots of money.

EDIT: Removed the mention of Derren and reworded the post as it could have caused confusion.

Yes, but I've just demonstrated that the argument doesn't hold up. There are more believers than non-believers.

It doesn't matter if 100% of the population believe in the existence of psyphic abilities - if I proved to the people who are close to me that I'm physic, they would feel uncomfortable being around me. That is why I don't think it is wise to reveal such a thing.